Colonial to Rematch with Xavier for Conference Championship

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The fifth-seeded George Washington men’s tennis team upset top-seeded Charlotte, 4-2, on Saturday in the semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at the Queen City Racquet and Fitness Club. The Colonials will face Xavier in the title match on Sunday for the third straight year.

After inclement weather forced the semifinal match indoors and pushed the start time back five hours, the defending A-10 champion squad was set to avenge a 4-3 loss to Charlotte from earlier this season.

The 49ers jumped out to a 1-0 lead with the doubles point in the Nos. 1 and 3 matches, but the Colonials fought back to win Nos. 1, 3 and 6 singles matches in straight sets. Senior Ugur Atalay clinched the match for GW with a third-set victory at the No. 2 singles spot.

Senior Richard Blumenfeld finished his No. 6 match first with an easy 6-3, 6-3 win over Charlotte’s Nate Shanok to knot the score at 1-1. Freshman Francisco Dias lifted GW to a 2-1 lead when he defeated fellow freshman Jack Williams, 7-5, 6-4, in the first-flight match.

The 49ers knotted the score again when sophomore Ulrik Thomsen fell 6-3, 6-0 to Anthony Davison in the No. 5 match, but the Colonials proved too much for the No. 1 seed. Junior Leonardo Lapentti earned a 6-2, 7-6 (1) decision over Paul Cisti at the No. 4 spot, and Atalay clinched the match with a three-set 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Kamil Khalil at the No. 2 spot.

GW looks to defend its A-10 crown against Xavier at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the LindnerFamilyTennisCenter in Mason, Ohio.